1901-09-25 — Page 3

''THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

MR. WHITEHEAD'S VIEWS.

We have received the following correspond- ence between the Hon. T. H. Whitehead and the Government for publication:-

Hongkong, 3rd September, 1901. Dear Sir Henry Blake,-With reference to the following Resolution, of which 1 have given notice, víz:→→→→

That in the opinion of this Council a throughly experience officer of first-class ability in every respect and of considerable professional standing should be secured to fill the office of Director of Public Works, and that this Council would willingly entertain any pro- 'posals which might be made by the Govern ment for the provision of a better salary than that hitherto paid.”.

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1901,

Will your Excellency kindly cause me to be furnished with a copy of the Magistrate's decision in question, instead of my having to wait for it until the next meeting of Council?.

The focal conditions speak fog generally are undoubtedly exceptional, and in many respects far from satisfactory. In addition to the preceeding fucts, it appears to me that there are other good and sound reasons which would fully justify the Colonial Government urging by telegram on the Secretary for the Colonies the imperative necessity of now securing and appointing a thoroughly experienced officer, first-class in every respect and of considerable professional standing, to take charge of the Public Works Department and of the ever increasing duties devolving on that Depart ment in respect of roads, streets, buildings, sewerage, water-works, reclamations, and the many important public works now in progress

I understood from your Excellency's remark and in contemplation, connected with the that you were undecided as to whether the sanitation of the Colony. In emsequence of mation was in order, but in the hope that you stantisi increase in the cost of living which the general increase in wages and the sub- will allow it. I venture to now make the follow have recently taken place in Hongkong, I re- ing remarks, as the next meeting of Councilspectfully submit that a thoroughly efficient and may not take place for some time.

capable officer cannot now be obtained at the The Public Works Department is the great-salary of the office hitherto paid. est spending Department of the Government, The duties devolving on the Director of that

Yours very truly,

(Signed) T. H. Whitehead.

Department are very responsible and most im His Excellency, Sir Henry A. Blake, G C.M.G.

portant..

Those difficult and arduous duties must. steadily incre se year by year with the material progress and the ever expanding commerce of the Colony. If the plague can he kept away from Hongkong there is practically no limit to the further expansion of the trade of the port, which may safely be said to be yet in its infancy.

་

The development of the New Territory in the Kowloon Peninsula (on which $730.571.34 of public money has been expended from 1898 to 30th June last) must add largely to the duties of the Director of Public Works.

The work of the office is now so vast in the aggregate that it appears to have already out grown the capacity of any one man, however able, industrious, or energetic he may be.

Government House,

Hongkong, 9th September, 1991 Dear Mr. Whitehead,-H. E. the Governor desires me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 7th inst., in reply to his letter of the 5th inst. His Excellency wishes me to say that it would be inconvenient to deal with the matters mentioned in your letter by private correspondence, and to suggest that your re- quests should be, made through the Colonial Secretary, when they will be dealt with in the

usual course.

I am to inform you, however, that the matter of the collapse of the houses is being very carefully looked into.

I am,

Yours sincerely,

(Signed) W. L. WARREN,

In short, the time appears to have arrived for the separation of purely sanitary and municipal The Honourable T. H. Whitehead. work from the public works of the Colony. It is growing more evident every day that the granting of municipal powers to the lax-payers cannot be much longer delayed.

In the interests of the trade and the shipping of the port I am convinced of the imperative necessity of now securing and appointing. à thoroughly experienced oficer, first-class in every respect and of considerable professional standing, to take charge of the Public Works Department and of the ever increasing duties devolving on that Department in respect of roads, streets, buildings, sewerage, water-works reclamations, and the many important public works now in progress and in contemplation.

A better salary than that hitherto paid is in- dispensable, and the Council should willingly vate the same,

Yours very truly,

(Signed) T. H. WHITEHEAD.

Hongkong, 12th September, 1901. Dear Captain Warren,-Your letter of 9th inst. duly reached me, in which you intimated that His Excellency the Governor desired you to acknowledge receipt of my communication of 7th idem. I beg to express my thanks for His Excellency's reply, and may be permitted

z In reply to the second paragraph of your letter, I regret that my letter of the 3rd instant was marked confidential by a clerical error.

1 have the honour to be, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

(Signed) C. CLEMENTI.

Acting Clerk of Councils. The Honourable T. H. Whitehead.

-THE · COCHRANE STREET COLLAPSE.

MAGISTRATE'S DECISION.

At the Police Court, this morning Mr. Haze- land gave his decision upon the evidence taken in connection with the re-opened enquiry into the collapse of Nos. 32, and 34, Cochrane Street. It was as follows:-

The evidence in this enquiry does not dis close what was the immediate cause of the collapse of No. 32, and No. 34. Cochrane Street on the night of the 14th day of August,

1901.

in my opinion, probably contributed to the The following conditions and circumstances,

said collapse -

(1.) The existence of a Blacksmith's shop on the ground floor of No. 3, Cochrane Street.

tendency to weaken the walls of a house. It was proved in evidence that vibration has a (2) On the ground floor of No. 34, Cochrane

Street was a cocklost used by the tenant, who was a contractor, for storing beams and planks. (3) The defective construction of the party wall between No. 32 and 34, Cochrane Street. it was proved in evidence that the said party wall was badly bonded, and that the heart of the said wall was hollow and filled in with small pieces of bricks.

Intintations.

GREAT EASTERN AND CALEDONIAN GOLD MINING CO., LIMITED,

INLIQUIDATION)...

NOTICE

FOTICE is barelly "given that, a FIRST

and FINAL. DIVIDEND of as cante, per Preference pliäre will be PAID. · Share- bolders are requested to send in their Pre ference Shares it their earliest convenience to the Undersigned, whereupon Payment of the above Dividend will be made,

M.,BENNECKE,

Liquidator.

13071

4. Hongkong, zyrd August, 1901

DOUGLAS STEAMSHIP COMPANY, LIMITED.

"HE ORDINARY MEETING ofSHARE- THE

HOLDERS in the above Company will ba held at the Company's Office' on SATUR- DAY, the 28th mustant, at Nom, for the purpose of receiving the Report of the General Mana gers, together with a Statement of Accounts to 30th June, got

will be CLOSED from the 23rd to the 28th The TRANSFER BOOKS of the Company

instant, both Days inclusive,

DOUGLAS LAPRAIK & Co. Genend Managers. Hongkong, 18th Septentber, 190r (1029

UNION INSURANCE SOCIETY OF CANTON, LIMITED.

NOTICE TO SHAREHOLDERS.

NOTICE is hereby given that the" ORDINARY -

NTWENTY-EIGHTH

YEARLY MEETING of the SOCIETY will be held at the HEAD OFFICE, No. 1, Queen's Buildings, Hongkong, on THURSDAY, the 10th October, 1901, at Nonu, for the purpose gether with the Statements of Accounts for of receiving the Report of the Directors to the year 1930 and for the half year ending the 30th June, 1901, and of declaring Divi

dends, etc.

The TRANSFER BOOKS of the Society

(4) The existence of an extra storey, which will be CLOSED from the 30th September to months prior to the collapse. was put on each of the said houses 6 or 70th October, both Days inclusive.

By Order of the Board,

W. J SAUNDERS, Secretary. Hongkang, 19th September, 1901.

NOTICE.

DINNER will be given to the Members of THE STRAITS AND SHANGHAI

(5.) That the showery weather prior to the collapse, hot one hour and then a heavy shower, would have caused considerable con- traction and expansion of the material, and, acting on the old walls, would have consider ably tended to the collapse.

(6.) That there was a deviation by the owners from the approved plans while altering the same two houses. The principal déviation being the building of an arch instead of a wall, and the total absence of internal cross walls.

jury I make the following suggestions or Putting myself in the position of a Coroner's

riders :-

(a) That the existence of Blacksmiths' shops

under tenement buildings should be prohibited. to remark that the correspondence on these (b) That all cocklofts used for storing heavy public questions, which deeply concern the inmaterial be alm prohibited. terests of the community, can scarcely be re. garded as private. I propose in due course to forward a copy of the letters to the local press for publication, for the information of the mem- bers of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce, whom I try to represent.

I remain,

Yours very truly,

(Signed) T. H. WHITEHEAD.

(c) That all buildings or work under the Building Ordinance be carried out under the superintendence of a European Architect..

(d) That the provisions of Section 72 of the. Building Ordinance, which casts upon the Director of Public Works the responsibility and duty of approving only of such alteration, and additions to old work or building's as will render the buildhig with the said alterations

His Excellency Sir Henry A. Blake, G.C.M.G. Captain W. L, Warren, R.A., Private Secretary, and additions absolutely safe (except in cases

Government House,

Hongkong, 5th September, 1901. Dear Mr. Whitehead, I quite recognise the important work to be performed by the Director of Public Works as an ad- ministrative official, and I have no doubt that this is fully realised by the ecretary of State, in whose hand the appointment rests, I cannot, however, agree with you that, the work of this small Colony cannot be properly supervised by one Director of Public Works, a

task that is being successfully performed.in. Colonies in which much larger works are being carried out than here.

Government House.

Colonini Secretary's Office,

3rd September, 1901. - Si-I am directed by the Governor to in-

form you that His Excellency having considered very carefully the terms of the resolution con- cerning the office of Director of Public Works, of which you gave notice at the last meeting of Legislative Council, has come to the con- clusion that it is not in order and cannot be submitted to the Legislative Council.

I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant,

(Signed) C. CLEMENTI,

Acting Clerk of Councils.

The question of a Municipality will not, The Honourable T. H. Whitehead. take it, be affected by the appointment of any Director of Public Works, who may be selected by the Secretary of State. Should that ques- tion come forward, it will doubtless be con sidered by His Majesty's Government on its merits, on which I do not desire at present to offer any opinion.

Yours very truly,

(Signed) HENRY A. BLAKE. The Hondurable.. T. H. Whitehead.

where the whole of such work or buildings in- cluding the old portion of the structure when completed complies with the provisions of the Ordinance), be carried strictly into effect,

(e) That the provisions of section 75 of the

Building Ordinance, which casts upon the Director of Public Works or officers deputed by him the imperative duty of entering, inspect ing and surveying every building work during it progress for securing the due observance of the provisions of this Ordinance, he carried strictly into effect.

(That the staff of the Public Works Department at present employed to carry out the provisions of the Building Ordinance is in. | sufficient, and ought to be increased without

delay,

After reading the decision, his Worship said

riders to the Attorney-Gengral. he proposed to send the depositions and the

Mr. Bowley As to the exhibits, will they be attached to the depositions?

His Worship-I think we had better keep them. They will be required later on.

THE OPENING MATCH OF THE

CRICKET SEASON.

Hongkong, 7th September, 1901. Dear Sir, I have been favoured with your letter No. 28 of 3rd inst., intimating that you are directed by the Governor to inform me that His Excellency, having considered very care fully the terms of the Resolution concerning the office of Director of Public Works, of which I gave notice at the last meeting of the Legislative Council; has come to the conclusion that it is not in order and cannot be submitted. Hongkong, 7th September, 1901. Dear Sir Henry Blake,-Yesterday afternoon to the Legislative Council. I beg to ask. I was favoured with your letter of 5th instant, whether His Excellency objects to the principle in reply to my communication of 23rd idem, of the resolution or merely to the wording and take due note of your Excellency's re-

thereof. If the latter, will you be so good as marks.. It is a fact (1) that plague has been to let me know what modification of its terms epidemic in Hongkong for six consecutive would render it in order in the opinion of the years, (2) that plague has entailed quarantine President of the Courcil?

I observe that you have marked your com. on the shipping of the port and disastrous results on the commerce of the Colony, (3) that munication confidential, which I presume bas B. E. Hanson there is considerable overcrowding in several been done in error, as the same cannot be W. R. Robenson of the districts in the City, (4) that there regarded as in any sense coufidential. In the A. Humphreys

Insanitation, defective sewerage and drainage, and (5) that there are evidently in existence in Hongkong Jerry-buildings.

There was the collapse or tumbling down of Nev,33 and 34. Cochrane Street on the night of

Although unavoidably clashing with the date fixed for the Gymkhana meeting, viz., Saturday, September 28th, the opening match will be sure to be well attended to sea how the players are shaping. The two sides XXII versus XI will be picked from the following

XXII.

L. E. Lammert

public interests I have given notice of a Hero- "T: J. Wild" lution, but it appears I am to be debarred from F. W. Goldring bringing the resolution forward in Council. B, W. Grey The Members of the Chamber of Commerce J. H. Smyth whom I try to represent are surely entitled to Dr. Atkinson' know the ruling of the President of the Coun Major Buttanthaw 14th alt, which resulted in the death of forty-cil on the point, and I shall be glad to leam E. H. Carpenter three persons and injury to many others. In regard to the latter collapse and the conseggoot that the word "confidential" has crept into C. Paul Chater deplorable loss of life, an enquiry under Ordin, your letter by mistake.

Ance. No. 7 of 1886 was beld at the Magistracy, but the said enquiry, as reported in the local press, cannot be regarded as is any sense com.

Yours truly,

(Signed) T: H. WHITEHEAD,

C. Clementi, Esq., Acting Clerk of Councils.

C. G. Danby

E. L. Libeaud W. G. Worcester

E. J. Davies

H. M. Man

T.C. Gray

R. J. Gerrard J. Hooper

J. P. Jordan Capt. Radcliffe, R.E. Lieut. Browns, R.E. Lt. Stevens, R.E. C J. Brown. Grant Smith GW. Woodcock Capt. W

plete or satisfactory, while the Magistrate's

Colonial Secretary's Office, decision appears to me to be equally incomplete

11th September, 1901. and unsatisfactory. The enquiry has failed to

Sir In reply to your letter of the 7th-inst show who is responsible for the jerry-building I am directed by the Governor to inform you or the faulty construction ofthe said two houses, as to the advisibility of appointing an experi- the collapse of which entailed the loss of forty-enced officer of considerable professional stand: three lives? It seems to me that your Ex-ing, such appointments are in the hands of the cellency would do well to cause the enquiry to Secretary of State and not of the Legislative be reopened with the object of getting at the Council, and it is not competent for an un real facts and the primary cause of the collapse official member to propose a resolution to the of the two houses, also of ascertaining the person Legislative Council involving expenditure of or persons responsible for the grievous loss of revenue forty-three live

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